Scientists Discover a Planet With the Most Earth-like Conditions Yet
科学家发现一颗迄今类地条件最佳的行星
Scientists have found LHS 1140b, a planet with the most Earth‑like conditions yet, 48 light‑years away. Astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets since 1992, seeking rocky, habitable‑zone worlds with atmospheres for liquid water. LHS 1140b, first spotted in 2017, orbits a calm red dwarf star. It is 1.7 times Earth’s diameter and 5.6 times Earth’s mass, completing an orbit every 24.7 days. Observations confirm it holds an atmosphere with leaking helium; models suggest carbon dioxide, oxygen and abundant water exist. Its host star emits low X‑ray radiation, which does not rule out life. Though actual life is unproven, the planet greatly raises the prospects for extraterrestrial life in the universe.
科学家发现了迄今为止类地条件最佳的行星 LHS 1140b，距离地球 48 光年。自 1992 年以来天文学家已发现数千颗系外行星，寻找位于宜居带、拥有大气层能够留存液态水的岩质星球。LHS 1140b 于 2017 年首次被发现，围绕一颗状态稳定的红矮星运转。它直径为地球的 1.7 倍，质量是地球的 5.6 倍，公转周期 24.7 天。观测证实该行星存在大气层，会向外泄漏氦气；模型推测星球存在二氧化碳、氧气以及大量水资源。它的宿主恒星 X 射线辐射水平较低，无法排除生命存在的可能性。尽管还未证实生命真实存在，但这颗行星大幅提升了宇宙中存在地外生命的可能性。来源：Time
今日生词
exoplanet 系外行星
habitable 适宜居住的
atmosphere 大气层；大气
